Grooming gangs in Keighley

The issue of child exploitation and grooming gangs in Keighley, West Yorkshire, was first exposed in the media by the town’s MP Anne Cryer in 2002. She was the MP for the town between 1997 and 2010. She was approached by the mothers of a number of young girls who were being given alcohol and/or drugged and sexually exploited by older Asian men in the area. They had reported the abuse to the police and social services but no action was taken by them. 

One of those mothers was Angela Sinfield and she became a local councillor between 2006 and 2008. She has campaigned for years against child sexual exploitation and for a public inquiry into the failures of the authorities to take action and protect the children.     

Despite the high-profile campaigning by Anne Cryer, Angela Sinfield and others, the focus of the media and inquiries on grooming gangs over the last few years has mainly been on the much larger towns of Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham and Telford.  

As in other towns, the survivors of the abuse in Keighley often live in fear because their abusers still walk the streets of the town. In 2021, the Bradford Partnership completed a review which confirmed that many survivors were still unprotected from their unchallenged abusers.  

There has however been more of a spotlight on the history of grooming gangs in Keighley this year. 

In January 2025, eight men were convicted and imprisoned for the sexual abuse of a teenage girl in Keighley in the 1990’s. The court were told that her mother had reported her missing on a number of occasions but nothing was done by the authorities. 

In her victim impact statement, the woman said “If I had been listened to sooner rather than later, maybe, just maybe, my life could have been different”. 

Following an audit by Baroness Casey in early 2025, a full national inquiry into grooming gangs was announced in June 2025 and five government backed local inquiries. There has however been little progress since then. A number of campaigners have pushed for Keighley to be included in the case studies.

At Jordans Solicitors, we support these enquiries and would welcome attention being directed to the grooming gangs in Keighley and the failures of the authorities there. However, as we have stated previously the enquiries must not simply be an exercise in fact gathering but must produce real and meaningful action.     

John Cryer, Anne Cryer’s son and a former MP who now sits in the House of Lords, has recently spoken publicly about his mother receiving threatening notes and telephone calls for exposing the abuse by the grooming gangs. She had to install a panic alarm in her home. He has also called for the prosecution of anyone who knew about the abuse but failed to act to protect the young take it up.

How can Jordans help?

At Jordans solicitors we act for clients who have suffered sexual abuse by grooming gangs as children and those that have suffered abuse whilst a resident in a children’s home and under the care of the local authority. 

We have successfully pursued claims against the local authority for failing to keep our client’s safe and for allowing them to be exploited by a grooming gang. 

Compensation is a small step towards taking control of your life and getting the justice you deserve. We understand how difficult it can be for you to talk about the abuse you suffered during your childhood. That’s why our specially trained child abuse solicitors work closely alongside psychologists and barristers to support you both emotionally and legally.

If you want to discuss the options that are open to you, please contact our specialist Abuse Team at Jordans Solicitors on 0800 9555 094 or request a call back.